Azuri launches PayGo solar in Nigeria

UK off-grid solar company Azuri Technologies has launched an PayGo solar home system partnership with Nigeria’s Delta Power Holding (NDPHC).

The NDPHC is a government-funded initiative formed to add new capacity to the country’s grid. Azuri’s recent partnership with the NDPHC emphasises crucial government input into seeking off-grid solutions, and its commitment to renewable energy technology development.

In fact, the Nigerian government has implemented an ambitious renewable energy policy that aims to increase energy production from clean energy sources up from 13% in 2015 to 23% in 2025 and 36% in 2030.

Azuri will be distributing its residential solar systems that include four light bulbs for up to eight hours of lighting, a radio and USB port, across the country. Customers pay for the service via mobile money for 36 months after which the customer owns the unit outright.

The initial deployment goal of solar power to 20,000 households is expected to create 500 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs.

“Nigeria’s commitment to increasing its renewable energy mix marks an opportunity for a reliable solar alternative to address the challenges of energy access,” Azuri CEO Simon Bransfield-Garth said in a statement. “Azuri is delighted to be working with NDPHC and the Government of Nigeria for solar home systems to meet the immediate power requirements of rural communities.”

Following this launch, NDPHC plans to start a phased rollout in northern Nigeria, followed by a nationwide deployment, targeting the 70 million Nigerians living in off-grid communities with clean, sustainable and reliable solar home solutions.

“Let me state at this point that NDPHC is actively involved in the presidential initiative on rural solar home lighting systems where 20,000 units of solar home systems in under-served rural areas with no access to grid electricity supply is being implemented,” managing director of NDPHC, Chiedu Ugbo said.